UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE
GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION

NTL No. 99-G10
Effective Date:  May 11, 1999

NOTICE TO LESSEES AND OPERATORS OF FEDERAL OIL, GAS, AND SULPHUR
LEASES IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF, GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION

Designated Safe Welding and Burning Areas on Rigs

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes the Letter to Lessees and Operators, dated January 25, 1995, on this subject. It updates regulatory citations and includes a statement on the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The purpose of this NTL is to inform you of the current policy of the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) regarding designated safe welding and burning areas on rigs according to the provisions of 30 CFR 250.402(c), 250.507, and 250.607. This policy, which is intended to streamline procedures and reduce burdensome paperwork concerning submittal of requests for approval of designated safe welding and burning areas on rigs, is as follows:

1. Only one of the five GOMR District Offices needs to approve your request for a designated safe welding and burning area on a rig. A valid designated safe welding and burning area approval consists of the rig drawing outlining the designated safe welding and burning area with a GOMR District Supervisor's signature and date. This approval will be accepted by all GOMR District Offices. An approval letter will not be issued.

2. You must post the approved rig drawing outlining the designated safe welding and burning area and any conditions of approval on the rig.

3. If you use a rig for the first time and another operator has received GOMR approval for a designated safe welding and burning area for the rig, you can use the approved designated safe welding and burning area. You do not need to apply for a separate designated safe welding and burning area approval.

4. If you plan to use an already approved designated safe welding and burning area on a rig, you must either: (a) attach a copy of the approved rig drawing outlining the designated safe welding and burning area to your Application for Permit to Drill (APD) or Sundry Notice or (b) include a statement in your APD or Sundry Notice (e.g., “We will use the rig's approved designated safe welding and burning area.”).

5. You must clearly mark the designated safe welding and burning area on the rig.

6. A copy of your approved "Welding, Burning, and Hot Tapping Safe Practices and Procedures Plan" required by 30 CFR 250.402(b) must be available on the rig.

7. If, during an inspection, an authorized GOMR representative revokes the use of a designated safe welding and burning area on a rig due to changes in the approved layout, the authorized GOMR representative will remove the drawing outlining the designated safe welding and burning area with the District Supervisor's signature from the rig. You may request that the area be reestablished as a designated safe welding and burning area. However, the GOMR District Office will not approve this request until an authorized GOMR representative has inspected the area.

8. Please be advised that you are not required to use an approved designated safe welding and burning area on a rig. If you do not wish to recognize the approved designated safe welding and burning area on a rig, you must perform welding and burning operations according to your approved “Welding, Burning, and Hot Tapping Safe Practices and Procedures Plan.”

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Statement

The information collection referred to in this NTL provides clarification, description, or interpretation of requirements contained in 30 CFR 250, subparts D, E, and F, and on forms MMS-123 and MMS-124. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the information collection requirements for these regulations and forms and assigned OMB Control Nos. 1010-0053, 1010-0067, and 1010-0043 for subparts D, E, and F, respectively, and 1010-0044 and 1010-0045 for forms MMS-123 and MMS-124, respectively. This NTL does not impose additional information collection requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Contact

If you have any questions on this NTL, you may contact the GOMR, Field Operations, at (504) 736-2845.

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